Caldwell Creations...: Hawaii 2010

Killing time in Newark during out 3 hour layover...thank goodness for plug-ins at the airport!

Got in the night before and just got out the next morning excited and ready to start this AMAZING adventure...

Yes...I like to shop while I'm on vacation and Jason likes to remind me that we're on vacation and time is running out to relax...I guess you could say shopping IS my way to relax... but then I'm stressing him out...We need to fine our happy medium...

Always surrounded by fantastic food!!!

OUT ON THE TOWN AFTER A GREAT MEAL!!!

There were some pretty great trees out there along the beach...

A nice walk home after dinner the first night along the beach.

At one of the local church buildings for a Sunday service.

This family is the daughter of one of our GREATEST friends here...Pat and Van Ellsworth...It was a treat to get to spend some time with them where they live out on the North Shore.

This picture (above) was taken right before Jason slid on the rocks and landed on his backside and one arm in the water. He managed to keep his arm up in the air that held the camera...good work Honey at the expense of your shorts and poor leg.

Shark's Cove is a very very beautiful place to see and snorkel... We never did get in the water at this point, but marveled at how cool it was with the huge waves crashing up on the other side of the rocks. We were able to sample a few goodies sold at the "world famous" Ted's Bakery...yummy...thanks for the great ideas Shaun!

A house of BEAUTY for sure. It was a great way to spend our Sunday getting to go to the temple grounds (temple was closed for construction) and getting to go to the Visitor Center.

Don't be fooled by Jason's smile...he was poking fun at this, not proud of it...

The above 2 pictures are of Chef Sielu's trib and where he offers tours, shows and demonstrations of how they live(ed). In the picture above this one just past those palm bushes and rock and down the hill is where "LOST" is filmed. It's where the "Dharma" houses are where they lived on the island. We didn't get to go see it as they were closed that day, but my parents were able to have a VIP tour the last time they were here...Very cool for all of us "LOST" fans...

This just shows a few of the pools, hot tubs and lagoons that surrounded the resort...WOW

This is the lagoon that's part of the Ko Olina resort we stayed at. It's perfect for snorkeling, sunning and swimming. It is just BEAUTIFUL and right outside our room.

Just getting ready for a good dinner with an Ocean View!!!

PEARL HARBOR in all it's glory...very humbling place to go...so much and so many to be grateful for!

You can see the rainbow in the water that is caused by the slow oil that still leaks from the USS Arizona...

This is the bell from the USS Arizona that was sunk at Pearl Harbor . These guys were the cutest things ever. We didn't even ask them when or where they served, but they were just so cute with that big picture of the ship behind them, we just had to get a picture with them. They had a line waiting to get pictures with them after everyone saw us ask for one...What good sports!

This is the USS Bowfin sub that we were able to tour though at Pearl Harbor. My hats off to you Grandpa Caldwell...I don't know how you could live in a sub for any length of time out at sea...

This is the spot where they signed the ending of WWII and the documents were enclosed in a glass case from the USA side and the Japan side. ~Very Significant event~

This is the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. It's so GIANT in size you just can't realize that from the pictures. It was amazing to get to walk through it and listen to the history...AMAZING!

Above is Jason making fire with two sticks and I'm braiding a headband out of palm leaves. This was all part of the "Fia Fia" show at the resort. It was held on Tuesday evening with a wonderful buffet of great food and a great show to follow. It all started out well and as we walked out plates of food to the table to sit down and eat outside, it started to downpour on us. The resort workers were all running towels out to everyone in hopes that it would blow over and the show would go on...no such luck. It rained and rained and rained without letting up till just about everyone had left and gone back to their rooms. We had kept ourselves busy all day and not eaten much as we looked forward to this meal and enjoying it to the fullest. We sat in the rain and ate our much needed, very yummy but soaking wet dinner. One of the guys from the tribe came over and visited with us about the history of their island, Samoa, and how the gospel was brought there and to his family there. It was so worth getting wet over, and it had stopped raining by the time we were done talking... What a memory to remember for sure...

They brought the show, no dinner this time, back on Thursday.

This funny looking guy is Chef Sielu Avea. When I was about 19 years old my parents brought all of us kids to Hawaii for a wonderful vacation...He was the guy doing the show at the PCC at the time...I have a picture of April, Celeste and myself standing with him (I'll post it tomorrow when i find it). April and I fell head over heals for him and here he was again...sweeping my off my feet. I must tell you that I can thank my Dad for this picture taking place...Thanks Dad!!!

This is the pearl I was able to get out of the oyster at the Dole Plantation...pretty cool! They said the the uglier the oyster the more beautifl the peral...well what if I think ALL oysters are ugly?

Great friends that we were able to hook up while we were there...Christy Hoffman (above) and Max and Karen Dummar (below).

Okay, so this was a trip of a LIFE-TIME for us. We were lucky enough to be able to go spend some time with Dad and Mom Hill in Hawaii. We were also lucky enough to have Mom Caldwell come stay with the kids so we could make this a trip for just Jason and I...I know, can you believe it!!?? I will most likely take several days to add my posts of this vacation as there are over 750 pictures that were taken. Don't worry...I won't post all of them, but it will take a little while to sort them out and get them uploaded. Here is our last few days on the Island as we were able to go Snuba Diving in a beautiful lagoon and see some amazing sea life. This is much like Scuba Diving, only you don't ware the air tank on your back. It's up in the rafts above and just floated on the surface as we were attached by the air hose. We had about four sea turtles that showed up and wanted to swim with us and be fed by us. They eat sea grass that grows on the rocks and they LOVE it when it's picked for them and hand fed to them. What an amazing experience this was as they really felt like "friends" by the time we left.

This was a very nice treat as Jason treated me to a massage that was MUCH needed. It was very relaxing listening to the sea waves and birds sing outside the cabana...AHHHHHHH!

There was always time for fun and funny faces as we spent the week together having a few laughs.

The very last night the "Fia Fia" that was rained out on Tuesday, came back to do their show for us. No dinner this night, but we stuck it out eating in the rain on Tuesday and had a blast....Pictures of that to come...